Valve and automatic operating mechanism therefor



ug l, 1944- c.1'. McGxLL Erm.V '2,354,694

' VALVE AND AUTOMATIC OPERATQING MECHAISM THEREFOR Filed June 24, 1939 9 sheetsl-'sheet 2 Aug. l, 1944. C, T. McGlLL ErAL 2,354,694v VALVE AND AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed June 24, 1939 9 sheets-sheet s i c E I Aug. l, 1944. n 2,354,694

VALVE AND AUTOMATIC OPERATING M'EHAISM THAREFQR` c. T. 'MQGILL ErAL ,Fil'ed June 24. 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 III Aug 1 v1944- c. T. MCGILL Erm. A 2,354,694

VALVE AND AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 24, 1959 Aug. l, 1944.

c. T. M'slLLA Erm. 2,354,694 VALVE AND AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANI'SM THEREFQR I Filed June 24, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented ug. l, 1944J VALVE AND AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFQR chester T. McGill' mia omar Fred nubruiei, Elgin,

Ill., assignors to Elgin Softener Corporation, Elgin, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application' June 24, 1939, serial No. 280,964

5 claims. (ci. 21o-24) This invention relates to valves and automatic operating mechanism therefor, especially designed and adapted for use with base-exchange water softeners, but also adapted for a variety of other uses, as, for example, with lters.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a system of valves in connection with a water softener, or iilter installation, or the like,

wherein a master control valve is continuously operated from the meter measuring the ow of water or other fluid through the'unit so as to advance the valve proportionately as the unit is o'perated, whereby automatically to attend to the regeneration or reconditioning of the unit at or near the end of the capacity run, the master control valve so operated being connected with a plurality of servo-valves which in turn control the ow of water; or other iiuid through the unit so as to provide one system of connections forone course of flow during the capacity run and different systems of connections for different courses of flow through the unit during the different stages of regeneration.

Another important object of the invention consists in the provision of piston type servo-valves each having a pipe connection. with the master control valve for application and release of pres- `sure to operate these servo-va1vesl at predetermined intervals in the cycle and in predeterf mined relation to one another, the pistons of the servo-valves being directly subjected to v uidl our invention, the valvesbeing controlled by a master control valve having. pipe connections with the bodies of said valves for uid pressure actuation thereof and the master valve being operated continuously from the meter measuring the flow of water through the softener, in aci cordance with our invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views of one of the servo-valves, showing the piston thereof in nor' mal retracted position in Fig. 2 and in pressure actuated position in Fig.' 3 ;4

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the master co'ntrol valve from the meter Fig. 5 is a face view of the register gears of the meter appearing in side elevation in Fig-4; Fig. 6 is an electrical wiring diagram showing our improved signaling means to indicate the extent of exhaustion of the unit or the progress of regeneration thereof;

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the water flow through the softener of Fig. 1 during softening,

ythe master control valve|being shown in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a sectionalview ofthe master control valve in backwash position;

Fig. 9 is -a sectional detail on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 to 13 are other sectional views similar Figs. 17 and 18 are two other views of 'the valves in moved positions;

' Figs'. 19 and 20 are cross-sections of themas-l ter control valve, on the lines Ill-I9 and 20-20 of Fig. 16; I

Figs. 21 and 22 are other sections like Fig. 19, but showing the valve turned to the positions of Figs. V1'7 and 18, respectively, and showing in dotted linesthe moved positions of the ports that appear in the section Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic front view of another softener installation showing the u'se of.

two multi-port servo-valves in combination with a master control valve;

Figs. 24, 25 and 26 are views similar to Fig. 23, but showing the valves in moved positions for different steps of. the regeneration cycle, and

Figs. 27 to 30 are views corresponding to Figs. 23 to 26, respectively, but illustrating multi-port servo-valves of a different construction.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Before ,describing our invention, we desire to point out that while the following description has reference to water softeners and/or Ilters,

56 it should be understood that we do not limit the application of our invention t'o that field, inasmuch as our systems of valves and controls v therefor may be used in many other kinds of units where, instead of water, other fluids and gases or air may be the fluid medium, the flow of which is to be controlled by the valve mechanism. For that reason, although the valves herein described, where applied to softeners, are designed to take careof four operations, namely, softening, backwashing, brining and rinsing, and,

whereapplied to filters, are designed to take care of three operations, namely,` filtering, backwashing and rinsing, our invention is not limited to these particular operations or numbers of operations, inasmuch as different circuits may be establishedv to suit different needs by simple changes and `additional connections in the master control valve and servo-valves. Those skilled indifferent -arts will at once appreciate further applications of thev invention which spacedoes other words, simply examples of the uses to which our invention may be put.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3,' 3| designates a base-exchange water softener and 32 the brine tank therefor. At 33 is indicated a meter -in the raw water supply line 34 to measure all of the water delivered to the softener during the capacity run as well as all of the water used during the backwashing, brining and rinsing stages of'A regeneration. In accordance with our invennot permit ourillustrating and describing here. Y l The particular embodiments disclosed are, in

municates with'certain of the pipes 41 associated with-certain of theyvalves 38-45 to release the the top of the softener 3| for passage vdownwardly through the bed of water softening material, whereby to be softened. The outgoing softened water is conducted from the bottom of the softener 3| through pipe 55 and flows through the valve 48 to the service system through pipe 56. At the end of the capacity run, the meter 33 which has meanwhile been continuously turning the rotor 35 of the master control valve 31 in one direction, has advanced the rotor 35 -to a backwash position where only valves 39 and 42 are opened, all of the other valves of group 38-45 being closed. During backwash, the incoming raw water from pipe 34 is conducted downwardly fromthe open valve 39 into the bottom of the softener 3| for passage upwardly through the bed of water softening material, so as to break up the bed and remove yfrom the top thereof all scum and vsediment deposited there during the softening 'operation.- The waste water leaves the top of the softener 3| through pipe 54l andis conducted through pipe 51 through the open valve '42 and 190,660, filed February 15, 1938, and is designed j to maintain a predetermined uniform ilow regardless of pressure variations in the line, and

as indicated at 35 and 3| in Fig. 7, and having a central port 8| and other ports 81, 38, and 88 interconnected by passages with the central port 8l, as clearly indicated in Fig. 7. The pipe indicated at 43 delivers water under pressure from the supply pipe 34 to the master control valve 31,

and, depending upon the position of' the rotor circularly recessed upper enell 52 of the piston 48, the piston 48 is forced downwardly against the action'of the spring 48 to open position, as

shown in Fig. 3, wherein the annular groove 5l communicates with the ports 5l. It will be apparent that while this particular valve is normally colsed and is arranged to be opened, vother valves operating on the same principle may be provided which are normally open. but upon admission of pressure fluid to actuatefhe. Piston are arranged to be closed. 0f course,.1ust.as

soon as the pressure which actuated the piston 48 is relieved, the spring 43 .returns the piston to its normal position. A'pipe 53y is shown extending from the master control valve 31 leading to the sewer or other drain receptacle, andI this pipe in 4certain positions of the rotor '33 30mavoid water hammer. After a predetermined amount of water has been passed through the softener, suiilcient to thoroughly break up the bed of water-softening material and remove sediment and impurities, the .meter 33 which has meanwhile continued to turn the rotor 36, tunis the rqtpr 33 to brining position in which onlyvalves 4| and 45 are opened, and, soon thereafter, also valve 44. Under these conditions.,

when valves 4i and 45 are open, raw water is delivered from the supply pipe 34 through pipe 53 through the'open valve 45 and through an.

material and liberates thecalcium and magnesium deposited therein during'the softening operation. T'he outgoing spent brine is conducted through pipe 55 from the bottom of the softener 3| and flows through the' open valve 4| outto the drain through the regulator valve 58. The

meter 33meters the brine indirectly by measuring the amount of water allowed `to flow :through the ejector 83 before the valve 44 is closed to.

cut on further delivery of brine tothe ejector from the brine tank 32. When the valve 44 is `clcsed..'the rawwater i'iow is continued from pipe 53 into the top of thesoftener 3| through valve erated calcium and, magnesium.` The meter 33 flow. With valves 38 and 4| opened, raw water is delivered from the supply pipe 34 into thetop of the softener 3| for passage downwardly 'through the bed of water softening material and out to the drain through the valve 4|. At the same time, since the valve, 43 is opened, there is a flow of raw Water` from the supply pipe 34 into the brine tank 32 to restore the normal level therein, the ow into the brine tank being shut off automatically by the float valve 84.

A second rinse folply port 8|. The bosses 82, 83, and 84 denne rotor ports 81, 88 and 89, respectively, through which water is arranged to be' delivered under pressure from the raw water supply port 8| to whatever ports of the series 1|-80 in the stator happen to be in register with one or morebf these three rotor ports at any given time. Two other ports 90 and 9| are provided in the rotor .38, and these may be considered as relief ports, inasmuch as they serve to establish communication with the drain pipe 53 for whatever stator ports happen to register with these two rotor ports at any given time in the turning of the rotor. 'I'he rotor-ports 81 and 90 are on a common radius and during one portion of a revolution of the rotor 38, the ports 1| and 13 register with the port 81, as in Fig. 7, but at another point they register with the port 90,-as in Fig. 8.

Rotor ports 88 and 9| are on a common radius During the course of the second rinse flow, the

valve'43 is allowed toclose, inasmuch as it does not take so long to replenish the water supply in the brine tank 32. an overflow pipefor the brine tank 32 which serves to conduct any surplus water to the drain in the-'event the float valve 84 fails to close when the correct predetermined level is attained, prior to the closing of the valve 43. The second rinse ow is, of course, also measured by the meter 33 and the latter advances the disk 38 of the master control valve 31 during this second rinse, and when a predetermined amount cf rinse water has been passed through the softener 3|, the valves 38 and 4| are allowed to close.- This completes the regeneration cycle and the only thing remaining is to get the rotor 38 of Ythe master control valve 31 indexed back to softening position, and it will soon appear how The pipe shown at 85 is and at one point in a revolution of the. rotor 38, port 88 registers with stator ports 12 and 15, as in Fig. 8, but soon thereafter the rotorport 9| comes into register with the stator ports 12 and 13, as shown in Fig. 10. Three other ports in the stator, namely, 14, 18 and 11 are likewise in'the path of the rotor ports 88 and 9|, all three of these ports registering'with the rotor port 88 in Fig. 10. Ports 14 and 18 are opened first and then port 11 so that valves 44| and 45 we have provided for flow to'the drain after the second-rinse operationl vso thatl the meter 33 can advance the rotor 38 to softening position.

The master control valve 31 is better illustrated in Figs. 4, and 7 to 13. In addition to the metallic rotor 38 operated by the shaft 35, the valve 31 comprises a, metallic stator or base member 88, metallic cover 81 and intermediate ported gasket 88 of rubber, compositiomor other suitable non-metallic material, the cover 81 being suitably secured to the base 88 and clamping the gasket member 88. therebetween. The rotor 36 hasa tubular axial pilot extension 38a received in a pilot bearing 88a provided in the center of the stator to insure accurate port alignment between therotor and stator. The shaft 35 is suitably connected with the rotor 88, as indicated at 89. A coiled compression spring 10 acting. between the rotor 38 and cover 81 holds the rotor seated under medium pressure. The stator 88 and gasket 88 have registering circumferentially spaced ports, numbered 1| to 80, prow'ded therein. 'I'he port 1| is connected with the valve 38 for hydraulic 4operation of the piston thereof, as indicated at 41 in Fig. 7, and`in the same figure are indicated other lines from other of the ports mentioned extending to valves 39, 40, 4|, 42, 43, 44,- and 45 for a similar purpose. 8| is the central port to which the pipe 48 is connected for delivering water to the rotor 38. There are three hollow arcuate bosses 82, 83 and 84 provided on the rotor 38 interconnected by hollow bosses 85 and 88 with one another and with the central sup- 4| (see Fig. '1).

are opened before valve 44, valves 4| land 4,5 beingy controlled by ports 14 and 18, and valve 44 by port 11. vThree other stator ports 14', 1|' and 18 'are arranged to register with the rotor ports 88 and 9| in the saine manner and order, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. The stator ports 14 and 14' are on a common radius and the port 14 has a spring actuated check valve 14a provided therein, as illustrated in Fig. 9, so that when pressure is supplied to the port 14', asin Fig. 12, the check valve 14a will prevent discharge of water to the drain through port 14, although when the port 14 is in .register with the rotor port 88, as in Fig. 10, water under pressure will open the check valve 14a andL deliver water through the passage 14b to the .pipe 41 that extends from the port 14 to the valve The stator ports 1| and 1|' are ondifferent radii but interconnected by the passage 1Ia, port 1| being arranged to register with rotor ports 81 and 90 in different positions of the rotor, and port 1|' being arranged to register with rotor ports 88 and 9| .in different positions of the rotor. The rotor port 89 is arranged to register with either one or both of the stator ports 19 and 80,' port 19 being shown in one direction, and it is for that reason thatl the bosses 82, 83, and 84 are elongated circum- 'fer-entially, the thought being to maintain communication between the rotor port 81 and the stator ports 1| and 13, for example, until apredetermined amount of water has passed through the meter before that communication isy interrupted and a different system of communication established through the rotor and stator.

.While we have shown a rotor 38 with bosses 82,

83, and 84 of xed circumferential length or angular extent, it should Abe understood that we we may provide'interchangeable rotors 94 with bosses 82, 99, and 04 provided for application of the master control valve to each of a series of softeners or filtersV of different capacities, these bosses being of certain sizes for one capacity and certain other sizes for another capacity.

The shaft 35 forturning the rotor 90v of the master control valve`91 is arranged to be turned by the meter at a comparatively slow speed during the capacity run and at a much faster speed during the regeneration period. At 9 2-95 in Fig. are indicated register gears of the meter 99 for 100,000 gallons, 10,000gallons, 1,000 gallo'ns and 100 gallons, respectively. 'I'he 100,000 gallon gear 92 turns 1/mo the speed of the 1,000 gallon gear l94, and throughout the capacity run the slow gear 92 is arranged to transmit drive tov the shaft 95 through the gear 98; whereas, during regeneration, theshaft 95 is arranged to be driven at a much faster speed from the .gear 94 rthrough an' intermediate gear 91. The gears 94 and 91 turn in the same direction and lhave electromagnetic clutches 98 and 99 through which they ,are arranged'to be connected with or disconnected from bevel gears |00 and |0| that are constantly meshed with other bevel gears |00' and |0i' on the shaft 95. Now' the clutch 98 is of the reverse type from clutch 99, the clutch 98 being normally engaged but arranged to be disengaged upon energization of its coil. whereas the coil 99 is normally disengaged and arranged to be engaged upon energization of its coil. Two disks 02 of insulating materialturn with the shaft 95 and carry contacts |99 on the periphery thereof arranged to be interconnected `by a stationary bridge piece |04 that rides on .the periphery of the disks under spring pressure, whereby to simultaneously energize the coils of both clutches .98 and 99 from the source o f electric current supply |05. Inasmuch as one complete turn of the shaftl 95 accounts for the capacity run and the regeneration cycle, and it is only during the regeneration cycle that the shaft '95 is to be driven at the higher speed from gear 91, thus necessitating the energization of the coils for clutches 99 and 99 only during that portion of the turn of the shaft 95, the contacts |09 are provided of a predetermined length circumferentially of the disks |02 so as to come into engagementwith the bridge |04 at the end of the capacity run and move out of engagement therewith' at the end ofthe regeneration cycle. There is thereforeno current flow during the long period of normal softening operationwhich we refer to as the capacity ru'n. All during that period the gear 98 is clutched to the gear |08 and the gear 91 is in declutched relation to gear I0|, so that the shaft 9l-turns at the slow rate of the 100,000 gallon register gear 92l of the-meter. It will be understood that whii/e' we have referred tothe drive take-oil.' from the meter as involving the register gears, we may futllize other y intermediate gears in the meter to transmit drive to the shaft 95. In Fig.r4, the parts are ings on the cover the position of the v alve at any l given time.

The operation may be understood by reference to Figs. 'I to 13. Fig. 1 illustrates softening operation, and in this figure. ports 1| and 19 are the only ports exposed and they register with the rotor port 81. Water under pressure is therefore delivered through these DOrts 1| and 13 from the ilow of raw water to the softener to be softened' and continuously advances the rotor 38 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the f arrow in Fig. 7. At the end of the capacity run,

stator POrts 12 and 15 come into register with rotor port 80 and the stator ports 1 and 13 come into register with thel rotor.` port 90, thereby opening valves 39 and 42 and closing valves 38 and 40 for the backwash operation illustrated in Fig. 8. By the direction of the arrows on the lines extending to the stator ports 1| and 13, we have indicated release of pressure from the pistons of valves 38 and 40.- On the other hand, the arrows on the ,lines extending from stator ports 12 and 15 indicate application of pressure to the pistons of valves 39 and 42. 'I'hen by reference to Fig. 7, assuming valves 99 and 42 are opened and the other valves are closed. it is clear that the incoming raw water from the supply pipe 94 enters the bottom of the softener 9| and ilows upwardly therethrough and out to the drain through the valve 42. This flow continues until a predetermined amount of water has passed through the softener, measured by the meter 33. During this operation, the meter continuously advances the rotor 38 in a counter-clockwise direction but at a much faster rate than during softening operation, it b eing understood from the previous description of Fig. 4 that at the commencement of the regeneration cycle the-contacts |09 complete a circuit through the coils of clutches 98 and 99 so as to `disconnect gear 98 from the shaft 95v and connect gear 81 thereto to drive the rotor 98 one yhundred times faster during the regeneration cycle than during softening. The faster movement of the rotor holds true for Figa/8, l0, 11 and 12,. wheress the slower movement of the rotor holds true for rigs. '1 and 13,

according to thel length of the contacts |09 previously-described. At the end of the backwash. stator ports 12 and 15 come into register with rotor port '9| and first stator ports 14 and 10 come into register with rotor port 80, and shortly thereafter the port 11 also, as shown in Fig. 10. This gue illustrates the brining operation. and under these conditions the valves 99 and 42 are closed by release of pressure from their pistons through ports 12 and 15, as indicated by the arrows. Valves`4| and. are opened by reason of water under pressure being delivered through ports 14 and 18. Then the valve 44 is opened by water delivered through port 11. Raw water from the pipe 59 is discharged through the ejector into the top of the softener and entrains with it brine from the brine tank 92 and the brine mixture flows downwardly through the softener 9| to regenerate ,the water softening material therein, the spent brine leaving the bottom of the softener and flowing to the drain through the open valve 4|, as should be clear in Fig. '1, knowing that valve 4| during brining operation is the only one of the ve in the one group opened and that valves 44 and 45 are also opened. The port 11 soon comes into register with rotor port 9|, as shown in Fig. 11, thus relieving the pressure from the piston of valve 44 and allowing this valve to close and cut off the flow of brine so that only raw water flows through the bed thereafter in what we call the first rinse. The fact that thev meter measures the fiowof water during the brinlng operation and causes the brine valve 44 to close when a predetermined amount of water has passed through the meter, results in accurate measurement of the amount of brine used. The first rinse operation is illustrated in Fig. l1 and it is clear that valves 45 and 4| remain open, due to the continued registration of stator ports 14 and 18 with the rotor port 88. The flow through the softener 3| during this first rinse is fairly slow due to the restriction imposed by the ejector 60. During this first rinse operation, a drain port 19 also comes into register with the rotor port 89, thus relieving'some of the pressure and accordingly cutting down the rate of now during the first rinse. At the end of the rstfrins'e, the second rinse starts, which vis illustrated in Fig. 12. The valve 45 is allowed to close by reason of the uncovering of port 18 by rotor port 9| and at the same time ports 14 1|", and 16 come into register .with rotor port 88. This results in the opening of valve. 43, which .is identified with port 16, and the opening of valve 38, which is identified with interconnected ports 1| and 1 I', the valve 4| remaining open by reason of its connection with port 14. In this second rinse, a much faster ilow is obtained, the raw water from the supply pipe 34 passingthrough the open valve 38 and entering the top of the sof-l,4

tener 3| and flowing downwardly therethrough and out tothe drain through the valve 4|. At

ing this long travel here is to indicate the exibility of application of the invention for use with different installations. Thusg'inthe case of i quire a much larger volume of water to complete l0 l its capacity run than is required to regenerate the other softener, and in order that the softener being regenerated .does not have its meter and valvecome toV rest as soon as the second rinse is completed, we have provided the prolonged drainage of a small amount of hard water per hour from the meter through the master control valve, so that the softener being regenerated will be thrown into service at or about the time that the other softener is taken out of service automatically by its meter operating the valve thereof to start regeneration. Then, while that regeneration `is going on, the previously regenerated softener is in service and remains in service until the other softener which is just being regenerated completes its` regeneration and is iinally thrown back into service again, and so on.

While we have shown in Figs. 1 and 7 single piston type valves, we do not limit our invention to such a construction, but, as shown in Figs. 14 and- 15, we may combine two or more of the valves into multi-port piston type valves to re'- duce the number of pipe connections and generally -simplify the installation. The valve shown I' at |01 takes the place of valves 39 and 42`of Fig.

the same time, raw water from the pipe 59 is de-Av port 9|, as should be clear from an inspection ofv Fig. l2, so that the valve 43 will be allowed to vclose shortly after the float valve 64 shuts olf flow into the brine tank. It will be noticed in Fig. 12 that throughout the second rinse, the stator port 19 remains in register with the rotor port 89 to .conduct water to the drain, so that there is ample opportunity to replenish the water supply in the brine tank from this source. The

amount/of water used for the second rinse is measured by the meter 33 which' advances the rotor 36 whilegthe water is delivered to the sof.- tener. Finally, ports 1|' and 14' are uncovered by rotor port 9|, as shown in Fig. 13, and the valves 38 and 4| are closed, so that the only further flow of water through the meter is that permitted through statorv ports 19 and 80 to the drain. In that way, the rotor- 36 is arranged to' be indexed back to the softening position shown in Fig. 7. In the case ofl a single softener installation, the duration of iiow to the drain following completion of the second rinse will be shortened considerably over what is provided for in the present construction, it being evident from a comparison of Figs. 7 and 13 that the rotor 36 must travel through approximately 90 to reach softening position. The only object in illustratthen another of the lights Ain order as the wiper 7. With such a construction, only one vof the ltwo ports 12 and 15 is required and the other can be dispensed with, and during backwash Awhen the port 12 or 15 registers with the rotor port 88, the valve |01 will be opened while the other valves are closed, thus allowing incoming raw Water to flowthrough one portion of valve |01 into the bottom of the softener 3| and. flow upwardly therethrough and out from the top thereof through the other portion of the valve |01 to the drain. The construction of the valve |01 is better illustrated in Fig. 15 in which 50a and 50h designate the annular grooves in the .piston 48a of the valve which are arranged simultaneously to be brought into registration with the pipe connections on the body |08 when water under pressure isv delivered to the valve to move the piston against action of the return spring 49a. While we have shown only vone multi-port valve of a type which is normally closed but arranged to be opened under pressure, it should be understood that we may employ a plurality of valves and may employ one or more of a type which is normally open and arranged to be closed under pressure. v

Fig. 6 illustrates electrical signaling means for indicating the degree of' exhaustion of a softener vor filter or the stage of regeneration thereof. -At

I02a isindicated a disk similar to one of the disks |02 shown in Fig,4v carrying a series of circumferentially spaced contacts |09 and twogother 'in- ||2 is turned progressively in one direction during the softening period. Assuming there are four lights, as shown, they may be designated' 25%. 50%, 75% and 100%, in reference to the stage of exhaustion of the softener. The other four contacts |09 are connected to other electric lights ||1|20 which indicate the progress of 'the regeneration cycle; the light ||1, for example, indicating rst backwash; the light ||8, second backwash; the light ||9, brining, and the vlight |20, rinsing. The other two contacts and are provided for sounding the alarm |2| at the end of the softening period and at the end of the regeneration cycle. As a substitute for the electric light signal means ||3|20,or in addition thereto, we may employ electric lights H3'- ||6 for indicating the stages of exhaustion of the softener during the capacity run andother electric lights ||1'|20' to indicate the stages of regeneration. It is also contemplated to provide either electric lights or annunciator coils and drops or to provide an electric motor which will vided in the tubular body |36 of another multiport valve |31. This valve is of the same type as valve |23 and its piston type valve member likewise has a spring 49e which normally holds it in one extreme position, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, but when water is delivered under pressure to the opposite recessed end 52, the valve vmember goes to the position shown in Fig.- 18.

vtion shown in Figs. 16, 19, and 20 with the port be periodically energized as contacts are engaged in the rotation of the wiper ||2 to rotate a pointer means to indicate the states of exhaustion of the softener or filter and also the progress l of regeneration.

Referring to Figs. '16 to 22, we have illustrated a filter 3|a having pipes 54a and 55a extending to the top and bottom thereof to conduct water into the top of the filter for passage downwardly through the filter bed, the filtered waterdis` charged from the bottom of the filter being then conducted to a service system communicating with the pipe 56a. 34a designates the raw water supply pipe and 51a, 51h, 51e and 51d the drain pipes. At 46a is indicated a branch off the supply pipe 34a leading to the master control valve l31a which is housed in one end of the tubular body |22 of a multi-port valve |23. The latter is of the controlled reciprocation type and has a reciprocable piston type valve member 48h normally held inone extreme position by a coiled compression spring 49h, as shown in Figs. 16 and 18, but arranged to be moved to another extreme position against the action of said vspring under hydraulic pressure of water discharged through the rotor 36a of the valve 31a into the body |22 through a port |24, the end of the valve member is provided m a wan |25 suitabiy rigid with the end of the body |22 in snug relation to the bottom face of thev rotor 36a. The latter is shown as provided with a manually operable handle |26 xed to the stem 35a thereof and having a. pointer |21 movable with respect to suitable markings on the closureplug |28 to indicate the positions of adjustment of the valve rotor 36a. However, it will be understood that we may operate the rotor 38a from a meter similarly as shown in Fig. 1. The rotor 36a has an arcuate groove |29 in the periphery thereof in the same plane with ports |30 and |3| in the body |22. 'I'he rotor has intercommunicatlng radial grooves |32 and |33 in the bottom thereof communicating at .their inner i to the port |35, and'when the rotor 36a is in the position shown in Fig. 22, water is 'delivered under pressure through the arcuate groove |29 to the pipe 41a communicating with port |30, whereby to move the piston type valve member 48e pro- |35|35 shut off and with the groove |32 establishng communication between the port |24 and the drain pipe 51e, so that the spring 49h holds the valve member-48b in the position shown. The valve member 48e is likewise held in an extreme position by the spring 49o, there being no pressure active against thevalve member. The incoming raw water from the supply pipe 34a is admitted to the annular groove |38 in. the valve member 49h with which the pipe 54a leading'to the top .of the filter tank 3|a communicates, so that raw water is delivered into the top of the filter tank for passage downwardly through the filter bed. Filtered water leaving the bottom of the filter tank 3| through pipe 55a is delivered through the annular groove |39 in the valve member 48e through pipe |40 intoannular groove |4| in the valve member 48h with which lthel service pipe 56a communicates, so that the filtered water is delivered to the' service system. When a predetermined amount of water has been passed through the filter and it requires regeneration, the master control valve 31a will be operated by means of the handle |26 in the case of a hand controlled filter, or by the meter in the case of an automatically controlled filter, similarly as in the case of the automatically controlled master valve 1 of Fig. l. 'I'he rotor 38a is turned through 180 to the positionshown in Fig. 21, so that water under pressure is delivered through pipe 46a and groove |32 to the port |24 to force the valve member 43h against the action ofthe spring 49h to the opposite extreme psition shown in Fig. 17. The lter 3|d with the valves 31a,'|23 and |31 in this new relationship is back-washed as follows: 'I'he incoming raw water from the supply pipe 34a enters the annular groove |38 in the valve member 48h and passes through pipe |40 which communicates therewith through the annular groove |39 in valve member 48e and through pipe '55a into the bottom of the filter tank 3|a for passage upwardly through the filter bed. The scum and sediment deposited on top ends with the port |24 inthe wall |25 .and ar- Y of thebed during filtering is washed out with the water discharged through pipe 54a from the top of the tank, the water finding its way from pipe 54a to the drain pipe 51h through the annular groove |42 in the valve member 43h, as

clearly appears in Fig. 17. After a predetermined amount ofwater has-been passed through the filter sulcient to thoroughly cleanse .the filter bed, the rotor 33a of the master valve 31a is turned through 45 from the .position of Fig. 2l to that of Fig. 22 for what is termed the rinse operation, the primary function of which is to clear out from the. bottom oll the filter all unfiltered water which entered during backwashing.

When the rotor 36a is brought to the position shown in Fig. 22, the groove |33 establishes comf munication between port |24 and port |34 with which the drain pipe 51e communicates, so that pressure holding the valve member 48h in the position of Fig. 1 7 is relieved and it accordingly moves back to the normal position under the action of its spring 492i, as shown in Fig. i8. In this new position of the rotor 36a, the arcuate groove |29 also establishes communication between the pipes 46a and 41a, as shown in Fig. 22, so that water under pressure vis delivered to the valve |31 'to move the valve member 46c against the action of its spring 49cto the position shown in Fig. 18. Under these conditions, the incoming raw water from pipe 34a passes through annular groove |38 in the Valve member 48h and through pipe 54a into the top of the lter tank 3|a/for passage downwardly through the lter bed. Filtered water displaces the unfiltered water beneath the filter bed and it is discharged through the pipe 55a through annular groove |39 in the valve member 48e and through drain pipe 51a to the sewer Aor other waste receptacle.:l After a predetermined amount of water has been passed through the iilter 3Ia, suiiiciently to thoroughly rinse out al1 unltered water, the rotor 36a o! the master valve 31a is turned clockwise through approximately 45 from the position shown in Fig. 22 and then clockwise about 90 farther to that shown in Figs. 19 and 20 which is the position for normal ltering' operation. In the 45 movement of the rotor 36a, the arcuate groove |29 establishes communication between pipes 41a and 51d to relieve the pressureholding valve member 48c4in the position shown in Fig.- 18, al-

f. lowing the valve member tobe returned to the normal position under the action of its spring 4 9c, as shown in Fig. 16. In passing, attention is called to the. guide pin |43 carried on' the closure plug |44 and having a sliding working lit in an axial hole |45 provided thereforl in the valve member 48e. This guide p'in isY preferably of square cross-section and the hole |45 therefor is also square so as to keep the valve member 48e from turning. In that way, the boss |39 provided on one side of the annular groove |39 and arranged to close off communication between the groove |39 and the drain pipe 51a in the normal position of the valve member 48e, vis kept in the proper relationship to the port communicating with thepipe 51a sothat the pipe 51a will not come into communication with the groove |39 except in the rinse position of the master control valve 31a, shown in Fig. 18.

In Figs. 23 to 26, we have shown the application of a somewhat similar pair of multi-port controlled reciprocation type valves 23a and |31a in combination witha master control valve 31h for controlling the operation of a base-exchange water softener 3|b, the same having a brine tank 32h in connection therewith. In this combination, the mastercontrol valve 31b may have the rotor 36h thereof turned manually from. one pofsition to another similarly as the master control valve |59 controls communication between the radial passage |48 and the axial passage |46. The ejectornozzle 60h has a brine inlet pipe |52 and a discharge pipe |53 connected to the body of the valve l23a at longitudinally spaced points. and there is a Valve |54 in the other branch controlling communication between the ejector and adjacent pipe |55 extending between the valves An arcuate slot |6| provided in the rotor 36h of.A

the master control valve is arranged to be placed incommunication with either of the ports |59 valve 31a is operated in Figs. 16 to 18, or the same may be turned by the meter measuring the flow of water through the softener, similarly as in the case of the master control valve 31 of. Fig. 1. The valves |23a and |31a have piston type valve members 48d and 48e. respectively, normally held or |60, and lwhen this' slot registers with one of these ports, communication is established between the port and the atmospheric drain pipe 53h so that in the event vthe valve member 48d Aor 48e has been moved under hydraulic pressure,l

the turning of the rotor 36h to a position where the associated port |59 or |60, as the case may be, comes into register with the slot |6|, the hy,-

Ydraulic pressure is immediately relieved and thev valve member is permitted to return to normal position under the action of its spring 49d or 49e. The arcuate port |62 provided in the rotor 36h defined by., tliehollow boss |63 cast integral with the rotor 36h and Icommunicating with the central pressure port 8|b is on the same radius as the slot '|6|, so that water under pressure may be delivered from the pressure port 8|-ib to either of the ports |59 or |60. The pressure port 8|b, it is understood, will be supplied with water under pressure from the raw water supply pipe 34h, the same being here illustrated as having a branch pipe 46h extending therefrom for that purpose.-

In operation, during softening, which is illustrated inFig. 23, the rotor 366 of the master control valve 31b is in the position shown, with both valve members 48d and 48e held in one extreme position under the action q'f their springs 49d and 49e, respectively. The incoming raw water from supply lpipe 34h is conducted through the annular groove |51 in the valve vmember 48e and through pipe |64 into annular groove |43 in valve member 48d from which point the pipe 54h communicating with the top of the softener tank 3|b conducts the water into the top of the softener for passage downwardly through the bed of 'water softening material. The outgoing softened water is conducted from the bottom of the softener 3|b through pipe 55h into annular groove I|45 in valve member 46a'. and through pipe |55 into annular groove |58 in valve member 46e'and out tothe service system through pipe 56h. This flow continues until a predetermined amount of Water has |been passed through the softener, as indicated :by the meter in the line, or as indicated by the condition of the water going to the service system. In the case of a meter controlled master valve. the meter automatically moves the valve rotor 36h to a positioncorresponding to the commencement of regeneration at'the end of the capacity run, but in the case of a manually controlled softener, the rotor 36h will be' turnedA by hand to the backwash position shown in Fig.24. In the backwash position of the master control valve 31h, the rotor 36h establishes communica nular groove |43 and another spring closed check I5 tion through the port. |62 between the pressure port 9|b and the port |60, whereby to deliver water underV pressure to the valve |31a to move the valve member 46e against the action of its spring 49e to the position shownin Fig. 24. 'I'he valve member 46d of the other valve |2.ia.re-

mains inits normal position. 'I'he lbackwash iiow is as follows: Raw water. from the supply pipe 34h passes through annular groove |51, fpipe |55, annular groove |45 andl pipe 55h into the bottom of the softener tank 3|b for lpassage upwardly through the bed of water softening material, so as to wash out from the top of the tank all accumulated scum and sediment deposited on top of the bed during softening, and also to break up the bed so that it will be in a better 'condition for regeneration. The waste water leaving the top of the'tank through pipe 54h is conducted through groove |43, pipe |64 and groove |56 to the drain pipe 51e which conducts the waste water to the sewer or other waste receptacle. The backwash flow continues until a predetermined amount of water has passed through the softener tank, at which time, if the master -control valve 31h is manually operated, the rotor 36h is turned to the brining position shown in Fig. 25. On the other hand, if this valve is operated by the meter, the meter at the end of the backwash iiow causes the v alve to es- -tablish communication between the port |62 and port |55vso that water under pressure is delivered from port 8|b to the valve |23a at the proper meter indirectly measures the amount of brine used by measuring the water flow which entrains the brine with it. In either event, as soon as the port |62 no longer communicates with port |60, but the latter is placed in communication with port I6| so as to relieve the pressure in valve interval to move the valve member 48d against the resistance of the spring48d tothe position shown in Fig. 25. The valve member 48e of valve |I1a meanwhile remains in the moved position,

- due to the fact that the port |60 in this position of the rotor 36h is still in communication with port |52. The iiow during brining is as follows: Raw waterfrom supply pipe 34h is conducted through groove |51, both directly to the service system through pipe 56b and through-the pipe |55 leading to the softener SIb.' That which iiows through the pipe |55 is conducted through valve |54 and through the ejector nozzle 66h, pipe I 53, groove |43 and pipe 54h into the top of the softener tank Sib. 'I'he suction developed at, the ejector nozzle 6|Ib causes |brine to be drawn from the brine tank 32h, through pipe 62h, through groove |44 and'pipe |52 into the ejector nozzle 60h to mix with the water flowing therethrough, so that aproperly proportioned mixture |31a so that the valve member 48e is free to return to normal position under the action of its spring 49e, the following ilow is established for rinsing: Raw water delivered from the supply pipe 34h is conducted through groove |51 and pipe |64 into the passage |41 in valve member 48d of valve |23a. Some of the water is by- Ypassed to the service pipe 56h, through passage |46, past valve |50 and through passage |48 and branch pipe |68 to pipe |55 and thence through groove |58 to the service pipe 56h. The main flow for rinsing is from passage |41, past valve |46, into groove |43, and directly through pipe 54h into the top of thesoftener tank 3|b for passage downwardly through the bed of water softening material to rinse out the remaining brine and liberated calcium and magnesium. 'I'he waste water leaving the bottom of the softener through .pipe 55h. is conducted through' groove |45 to the drain pipe |65.r At the commencement vof the rinse operation, some of the water delivered to the groove |43 will find its way through pipe |53 to the ejector nozzle 50h, and thence through pipe |52 and groove |44 to the pipe 62h leading to the brine tank 32h. Check valve |66 prevents iiow therethrough, but check valve |61 permits iiow through the rell pipe 63h and float operated valve 64b into the.brine tank IIb. The float closes the valve 64b when a predetermined level is reached. The rinse 'flow is continued until a predetermined amount of water has passed through the softener Mb, whereupon if the master control valve 31h is manually operated, it is turned by hand to the softening position shown in Fig. 23, whereas in the event the rotor 36h thereof is operated by the meter, the rinse flow is discontinued and softening opera- `tion resumed when the port |6| comes into communication with port |59 so as to relieve the pressure from valve |23a and allow the valve member 45d to be returned under the action of its spring 45d to the normal position shown in Fig. 23.

- In Figs. 27 to 30, we have shown a generally similar combination of master control valve 81c allows flow only in the opposite direction to that just mentioned, whereby to permit replenishing the water supply in the brine tank 32h during' and subordinate multi-port valves |23b and |312: to control the operation of the water softener llc which has associated therewith -a brine tank 32o. This combination has the master control valve 31e identical with master control valve 31h and a multiport valve |3117 substantially identical with valve Illa, but the multiport valve Ib diiiers from the valve |2Ia in the elimination oi the longitudinal passage |45 and the elimination of the check valves |49 and |50, there being substituted another check valve |68 in a connecting passage |5317 between the valves |2Ib and |31b, the latter passagehaving communication with the passage |64a between said valves as well as with another passage |53'a. All parts in Figs. 27 to 30 which correspond to parts in Figs. 23 to 26 have been numbered correspondingly. Inasmuch as the construction is so closely similar to that .lust described, .it can doubtlessly be understood sumciently from the description of the operation alone. which is as follows: i

During softening operation, illustrated in Fig. 27, the incoming raw water from pipe I4c goes through groove |61 in valve member 48g and pipe- |84a, through groove |43 in valve member 48f, through pipe 54e, into the top of the softener 3|c for passage downwardly through the bed of water softening material. Softened water leaving the bottom of the softener jtank is conducted through-pipe 55e, groove |45`and pipe |55a into groove |58 and thence to the service system through pipe 56e. e

have been drawn with a view to covering all legit- A imate modications and adaptations.

1. In a water treating apparatus, the combination of a container for water treating material, a source of raw water supply under pres-A sure, means for subjecting said material to treat- During backwash operation, illustrated in Fig. l

- with it scum and sediment from off the top of the bed of water softening material'is conducted L through pipe 54e and groove |43, through pipe I84a, and groove |56 to the drain pipe` 5W.

' During brining operation, illustrated in Fig. 29, in which the valve member 481' of the valve |231), is also moved under pressure against the action of its spring 49j' like the valve memberv 48g of valve I3b, the ow is as follows: The incoming' raw water from pipe 34e iiows through groove 53 and pipe |5501, throughvalve |5Ba, ejector nozzle 6to, and pipe |53a into pipe |53b com-1 municating with groove |43, whereby to conduct water through pipe 54e into the. top of vthe softener tank Sic to cause a flow of brine mixture ment phases, such as softening, back-washing, regeneration, and rinsing, including a piping system for conveying water. from said source through said container, a plurality of spring pressed valves in said system for controlling the' flow of water therethrough for eifectingsaid phases, each of said valves being operated in one direction under spring pressure and adapted to be operated in the opposite direction under pressure from said source of raw water, a plurality of pressure tubes one of which is connected to each f of said valves for Water pressure operation theredownwardly throughthe bed of, water softening material. Brine for this purpose is conducted from the brine tank 32e, through pipe tic, into groove itt, and thence through pipe i52a to the ejector nozzle eee, at which point the brine mixes with the water flowing through the nozzle. Spent brine leaving the bottom of the softener tank 3| c through' pipe 55e is conducted through groove it te thedrain through pipe H5515. A check valve it@ in the pipe i lith prevents ow to the pipe-Bta communicating with the drain pipe 511. How-- ever, during the brining operation, and likewise during the backwash operation (Fig. 28), it is clear that the service pipe 5to isin direct communication throughv groove iE's with the raw water supply pipe tric, so that wate'r may be drawn at yany service tap during the course of both ci these operations. c

During rinsing operation, which is illustrated in Fig. 39,'in which the valve member 48g of valve |3'lb is permitted to return to normal position under the action of its spring 49g by reason of the rotor 36o of the master control valve 31e having moved to a position in which pressure on c the valve member 48g is relieved through pipe 53o, the following flow is established: The incoming raw water from supply pipe 34e passes through groove |51, throughpipe |531), into groove |43, and thence through pipe-54c into the top of theY softener tank 3io for -ilow downwardly through the bed of water softening material. The waste/water leaving the bottom of the softener tank Sic through pipe c is conducted through groove |45 to the drain pipe |65a. Dur'- ing this operation, some of the incoming raw.

of, said valves being operative to allow or stop flow of water therethrough in accordance'with a predetermined pressure in said tubes suiicient to overcome the pressure of the springs associated with the respective valves, a single rotary master valve connected to said tubes for selectively admitting and allowing the escape of water from said tubes to control the pressure therein in a predetermined sequence in the continuous rotation of said master valve, whereby to effect the phases in a predetermined sequence and timed relationship, means measuring the flow of water from the source of raw water operatively connected to cause the continuous rotation of said master valve, said means comprising low ratio and highl ratio register gears vadapted for selectively transmitting drive to said master valve,

electro-magnetic clutches controlling the driving connections between said register gears and said master valve, a source of electric current supply, and a timing disk means operatively connected to turn with the master valve and operatively connected to control the energization of said electro-magnetic clutches so that the master valve is operated -by the low ratio register gearing during the treating period and by the high4 ratio register gearing during the regeneration period.

2. .An-automatic water treating apparatus comprising, in combination, a container for -water treating material, means for delivering raw water thereto and conducting treated water therefrom, a meter for measuring the raw water delivered, ejector means operable with water from the raw water delivery means for delivering regenerating material to said container from a source of supply of regenerating material, a plurality of mutually independent hydrostatically operable valves for controlling the flow of water and regenerating material through vsaid container to place the apparatus in treating positionl or a regenerating position, a master control valve comprising a casing, a 'multiported statorelement, one of said casing' and stator elements having a hydrostatic pressure port provided-therein and the other having a relief port provided therein, anda multiported rotor element arranged to turn .with respect to themultiported stator element to establish communication selectively between a certain port or ports in the stator and said hydrostatic pressure port or said relief port, separate and independent hydrostatic pipe connections between the stator ports and the aforesaid valves, a pipe connection between the hydrostatic pressure port and the means for delivering raw water to said container, the aforesaid meter comprising low ratio and high ratio register gears for selectively transmitting drive to said rotorelement, the one set of register gears being normally connected and the other disconnected from the rotor element, electro-magnetic clutches controlling the drivingconnections between said register gears and said rotor element. and a timing disk means turning with the rotor element and serving to 'control the energization of said electro-magnetic clutch means from a source of electriccurrent supply, .so that the rotor 'element isoperated by the low ratio register gear during the treating period and from the high ration register. gear during the regeneration period. l Y

3. An automatic water treating apparatus, cornprising, in combination, a container for water treating material, means for delivering rawwater thereto and conducting'treated water therefrom, a meter for measuring the water flow through' said container, ejector means operable with vwater'from the raw water delivery means for delivering regenerating'material to said container from a source of supply of regenerating material, a plurality of mutually independent-hydrostatically operable valves for`controlling the 'flow of water and regenerating material through said container to place the apparatus in treating position or a regenerating POSition, each of said hydrostatically operable valves comprising a hollow valve body providinga bore therein lin transverse relation to inlet ,and outlet ports provided in opposite sides of the body in registering relation, a valve piston reciprocabie in the bore' and so formed that when moved to one extreme psi- Ation it closes the valve ports and when movedto the opposite extreme position it opens the valve ports, and spring means in one end of the bore I rotor element arranged to turn with respect to the multiported stator element to establish com munication selectively between a certain port or ports in the stator and said hydrostatic pressure raw water delivery means for delivering regener- Y said meter and said rotor element to cause continuous rotation oi' the latter in the operation of the apparatus. v

4 An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, where,- in the last mentioned means comprises low ratio and high ratio register gears for selectively transmitting drive to said rotor element, clutches controlling the driving connections between said register gears and .said -rotor element, and timing means operatively connected to turn with the rotorl element and operatively connected to control the engagement and disengagement of said clutches so that the rotor element is operated by the low ratio register gearing during softening and by the high ratio register gearing during regeneration. l

5. An automatic water treating apparatus comprising, in combination, a container for water treating material, means for delivering raw water thereto and conducting treated water therefrom, a meter for measuring the raw water delivered, ejector means operable with water from the ating material to said container from a source of supply of regenerating material, a pluralityof mutually independent hydrostatic'ally, operable valves for controlling the flow of water and regenerating material through said container to piace the apparatus in treating position or a regenerating position, a master control valve comprising a casing. amultiported stator element, one of said casing and stator element having a hydrostatic pressure port provided 'therein and the other having a relief port provided therein, .and a multiported rotor element arranged to turn with respect to the multiported stator element to establish communication selectively between a certain port or ports in the stator and said hydrostatic pressure port or said relief port, separate and-independent hydrostatic pipe connections between the stator ports and the aforesaid valves, a

pipe connection between the hydrostatic pressure port and the means for delivering raw water to said container, the aforesaid meter comprising low ratio and high ratio register gears for seport or said relief port,separate and independent hydrostatic pipe connections between the f. register gear during the treating period and from stator ports and the pressure ports of the aforesaid valves, a pipe connection between the hydrostatic pressure port and the means for deliv ering raw water to said container, and means providing operating connections between the-aforelectively transmitting drive to said rotor element, the one set of register gears being normally connected and the other disconnected from the rotor element, clutches controlling the driving connections'between said register gears and said rotor element, and timing means turning with the rotor element and serving to control lthe engagement,

Aand disengagement of said clutch means, so that the rotor element is operated by the .low ratio the high ratio register gear during the regeneration period.

CHESTER T. McGILL. OMAR FRED DUBRUIEIL..l 

